Shillong: The High Court of Meghalaya at Shillong rejected a plea to toss out an FIR against Ajit Das, also known as Avinash Das, and three accomplices. The group sought to kill the Shella police station case following a reported compromise with the victim. Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere slammed the door on that idea on July 13.
The trouble started at a limestone quarry owned by Das. SI Pradip Thapa of the Bholaganj Police Check Post headed to the site after reports of a brutal attack on a suspected Bangladeshi national. Cops arrived to find 30 to 35 people at the scene and a Bolero vehicle rigged with an illegal siren. Officers moved to stop the violence. Instead of standing down, the quarry owner blocked the police and raised his hand to hit the officer on duty. The remaining suspects kept beating the victim, effectively shielding him from rescue.
The court reviewed witness statements and the initial FIR. It found clear evidence of wrongdoing under Sections 115(1)(2), 132, 121(1) and 3(5) of the BNS. The judge noted that quashing a case is off the table when it involves obstructing a public servant performing official duties. The court stated, "After perusing the FIR and the statements of witnesses, the Court found that prima facie the petitioners have committed the alleged offences."
Justice Dere dismissed the petition. The trial court must now handle the case independently. It must decide the matter on its own merits without any pressure from these findings.
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